Glacier National Park offers some of the best in Montana vacation activities

by Michele Kadison

Glacier National Park is certainly one of the highlights of a Montana Vacation, offering some of the best in backpacking, hiking, horseback riding and rafting. Nearby, you find world-class Montana accommodations, restaurants and vacation rentals.

With its mountain ranges jutting jagged into the sky, prehistoric rivers, lush alpine meadows, dense forests, waterfalls and more than 50 waterfalls and 200 lakes, you’d be crazy not to put Glacier National Park at the top of your Montana vacation list!

Established in 1910, the park consists of 1,600 square miles of magnificent land, with very few miles of road breaking up the scenery.  The unspoiled beauty makes Glacier National Park a haven for lovers of big nature, photographers, or anyone wanting to seriously get away from it all.  With more than 700 miles of trails, hiking or horseback riding is a pleasure.

Glacier National Park is in the northern Rockies and lies at the border of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada.  Together, the two parks create Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park World Heritage Site, which makes for a perfect Montana-Canadian holiday vacation.  Take the breathtaking 52-mile long highway called “Going to the Sun Road” that goes through Glacier National Park and then crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass to continue on to the famed “Garden Wall.”

There are roughly 1,200 campsites throughout the park, which are available on a first come, first serve basis so there is no excuse for not staying in this glorious paradise for as long as you can.  If camping isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of historic lodges and hotels open during season.  You can also choose various tours that go through the park in addition to hiking on your own.

Note to travelers:  the maximum vehicle size for riding over Logan Pass is 20 feet long and 8 feet wide (including bumpers and mirrors.)  Oversize vehicles will find parking at various points along the way.  Rental cars are available at nearby towns.  Shuttle service is also available.

Logan Pass opens in the middle of June and closes during the middle of October, depending on weather conditions.  The park and Going to the Sun Road are open all year round.

Call the park for more information.

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Learn about the history of the Cheyenne on your Montana Vacation in Ashland

by Michele Kadison

Montana vacation travelers wishing to learn about the history and culture of the Cheyenne people will be enthralled by the exhibits at the Cheyenne Indian Museum. Besides this interesting bit of history, this town offers great Montana hotels and accommodations.

Situated on the grounds of the Saint Labre School, which opened in 1884 as a learning center for Native American Children, you can visit the replica of the three room cabin that was the original school building.  There are now more than 700 children educated at the school, which of course has expanded to accommodate the growing number of students.

The museum itself contains a wide range of Native American art and artifacts such as textiles, clothing, arrowheads, tomahawks, toys, jewelry, and exquisite beadwork.  There are also interesting dioramas on display as well as paintings that depict the enormous range in styles generated by Native American artists of various periods.

Another beautiful building, the Saint Labre Indian Chapel, with its teepee-like structure, is a stunning architectural testimonial to both the Cheyenne and the Plains Indians.  You can attend mass there on Thursdays at 4:30 PM and Sundays at 10AM.

The gift shop is a great place to find a souvenir to take home as a reminder of the resonant Native American culture.  The museum is an important window into Native American customs and contributions, making it an ideal place to visit with the entire family.

Tours of the museum begin at 8AM and end at 4:30 PM, with longer hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Saint Labre Indian School
Tongue River Road
Ashland, Montana 59003
Tel: 406-784-4516

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Montana Ski Vacation Destinations

Ski vacation fun in Montana.

Some of the best opportunities for ski vacations you’ll find in the Rockies are in Montana. While other parts of the Rockies have gotten to be a bit crowded, ski vacations in Montana are marked by excellent snow and low crowds.

Below you’ll find links to some of Montana’s best ski resorts. Besides great skiing and snowboarding, these resorts offers up some of the best in Montana ski lodging available, and some great Montana ski deals.

• Montana Ski Vacations: Learn to Ski
• Ski Montana: Big Sky
• Ski Montana: Blacktail Mountain Ski Area
• Ski Montana: Bridger Bowl Ski Area
• Ski Montana: Great Divide Ski Resort
• Ski Montana: Lookout Pass
• Ski Montana: Lost Trail Powder Mountain
• Ski Montana: Maverick Mountain
• Ski Montana: Montana Snowbowl
• Ski Montana: Moonlight Basin
• Ski Montana: Red Lodge Mountain Resort
• Ski Montana: Showdown
• Ski Montana: Turner Mountain
• Ski Montana: Whitefish Mountain Resort

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Plentywood offers unique history on for Montana Vacations

by Michele Kadison

Plentywood, Montana is an excellent place to visit on your Montana vacation if you are interested in the history of this great state.

Plentywood’s modern history began when a cattlemen coming across the state met some riders coming from the opposite direction.  The cattle outfit needed water and a place to set up camp.  They were told to keep going for a bit until they would find “plenty wood” where timber grew alongside the bank of a creek.  The cattlemen pressed on and set up camp in what was eventually called Plentywood.

The town was made official in 1909 when the railroad arrived.  Before being settled by white men, the area was a hunting ground for the Assiniboine tribe.  It was here too that Sitting Bull and the Sioux tribe surrendered to the U.S. Army.  Then the region became prime grazing land for the white man’s cattle and sheep, until homesteaders arrived and created a town.  Plentywood has many tales to tell, with the Outlaw Trail crossing into Canada just north of town.  The trail was used by rustlers to move stolen horses and cattle across the border.  It was named by Butch Cassidy who made himself a temporary home in the Big Muddy Valley to the west.  Outlaws were the rule of the day in turn of the century Plentywood, making it a legendary town in Wild West lore.

Hard times befell Plentywood over the years, with cycles of drought, starvation, and prosperity.  Today the town is a major trading center for people living in the northeastern corner of Montana.  With exotic animal farm tours, June’s hot air balloon rallies, and nearby sandy breaches lining the banks of the beautiful Brush Lake, Plentywood makes a great vacation destination.

Visit the Sheridan County Museum to learn about Plentywood’s history.  This, along with the Civic Center, completed in 1983, make for an entertaining look into a lively western past.

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Montana vacations in West Yellowstone

by Michele Kadison

West Yellowstone offers a terrific opportunity for accommodations and lodging on the border of Yellowstone National Park, and quick access to all of the terrific Montana vacation activities the park has to offer.

The town is known as the snowmobiling and trout fishing capital of the world, with visitors coming from all corners to enjoy these activities.  Abundant snow falls during the winter season makes for excellent cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, with groomed trails extending for miles around.  During the summer, anglers enjoy the plentiful blue-ribbon trout streams that run throughout the area.

Quake and Hebgen Lakes are located within West Yellowstone, as is the beautiful Madison River.  Then there is Yellowstone National Park, the oldest park in the United States.  Here you will find everything you can imagine in big nature: majestic mountains, gushing waterfalls, shining hot pools of water, mud cauldrons, geysers, and miles of rugged land that reaches out to the horizon beyond.

Visit the Museum of the Yellowstone where you can learn about the history of the region.  See the many interesting exhibits on railroad and stagecoach life as well as on the local flora and fauna.  The museum is open from mid May through mid October.

West Yellowstone’s IMAX Theatre, with its six-story high screen and surround sound is another great way to learn about the area’s history. “Yellowstone” interprets the geothermal activity and shows the abundant wildlife that inhabit the park.

The Grizzly & World Discovery Center is another educational must-see where you can watch live Grizzly bears and wolves in their own habitat.

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Miles City offers Montana Recreation, Culture, and Fun in a Picturesque Cattle Town

by Michele Kadison

Looking for excellent Montana recreation activities in a typical old western town? Miles City offers fishing, boating, golf and other Montana activities, as well as great lodging and hotels.

Colonel Nelson A. Miles was the commanding officer for the cavalry sent to round up “hostile Indians” back in 1876 when he ended up camping at Yellowstone at the Tongue River.  The site became a stopover for cattle drivers arriving from Texas, and eventually became a center for the cattle industry.  In 1884 the Montana Stockgrowers Association was formed, strengthened by the Northern Pacific Railroad, which reached the area in 1881.

Sitting pretty along the vast Montana plains and badlands, with the Yellowstone and Tongue rivers flowing forth, Miles City still retains the air of an old Western town.  With its weekly livestock auctions and its annual Bucking Horse Sale for rodeo breeders and stock buyers, the town is a great destination point when planning your vacation travel.  Make sure to stroll down the main street, where the 1950’s come alive.  Visit the 1930’s era high school as well as the saloon, renovated to its original 1900’s style.

For you Western buffs, take yourselves over to the Range Riders Museum where you will see classic cars and wagons, old farm equipment, and a wide range of western gear, including over 400 firearms.  The museum complex is on the original Fort Keogh cantonment, adding to its historical interest.

The Custer County Art Center is another important site to visit when in Miles City.  With its excellent exhibits and programming that includes a permanent collection as well as visiting collections, the center is a wonderful place to spend some culturally fulfilling hours.  Overlooking the Yellowstone River in a beautiful park setting, the art center features two large galleries as well as a smaller one to keep you steeped in art.

If you’re planning your vacation travel in August, you’ll be just in time for the Eastern Montana Fair.  The four day festivities include rodeos, a carnival, tractor pulls, a demolition derby, and many commercial exhibits.  Contact the Miles City Chamber of Commerce for more information on events.

Miles City has a large outdoor municipal pool right next to the city park.  There is also a recreation area with boating facilities to take you along the Yellowstone and Tongue rivers for a relaxing day on the water.  For anglers, you can take your gear over to one of the reservoirs for a day of fishing.  Golf, racquetball, tennis, and bowling are other activities that will keep you fit and fresh.

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Frontier Fossils, Dinosaur Bones, and and Great Montana Lodging

by Michele Kadison

A Montana Vacation to Glendive gives you the opportunity to discover the ancient archeology of this area, in the form of dinosaur bones, while enjoying some of the best Montana scenery.

With its abundant ranches and grain farms, Glendive sits between the Yellowstone River and the badlands right at the edge of eastern Montana and western North Dakota and only three miles southeast of the gorgeous Makoshika State Park.

With 11,531 acres of rock formations created by time, the Makoshika State Park is a must for anyone wishing to forget about city life.  Take the abundant nature trails, a scenic drive, or go camping with the family.  The park offers picnic sites and an archery range for those of you yearning to pick up some bows and arrows.  As a famous preserve for Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops dinosaur remains, the park’s exhibits are also well worth exploring.  You can also visit the Glendive Visitor’s Center to see a real Triceratops skull as well as many interesting fossil displays.

Glendive’s Frontier Gateway Museum is another must-see with its dino fossils, farm machinery, blacksmith tools, and Native American artifacts.  Glendive is known for is agates, especially Montana moss agates which are found in gravel beds, creek bottoms, and along the banks of the Yellowstone River that runs through the town.  Visit the Best Western Jordan Inn to see their agate display and then take a guided rock hound boat tour to learn about the history of agates in the region.

When in town, take a self-guided walking tour of the downtown Glendive Historic District where you will see beautifully preserved architecture from yesteryear.  Many buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  You can find brochures at the Glendive Chamber of Commerce.

The Bell Street Bridge, built in 1894 and destroyed by an 1899 ice jam, is an important local landmark to visit.  Rebuilt during the years 1924 and 1926, the bridge is one of the longest of its kind in the state.  If you are planning your vacation travel for September, make sure to go to Glendive for the annual celebration that commemorates the Bell Street Bridge.

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Broadus Montana is a great historic ranching town with excellent hotel accommodations

by Michele Kadison

Broadus is a great stop for Montana family vacations, with a chance to learn about western cowboy culture.

The town was named for the Broadus family who settled on the Powder River in the early days when settlers were coming in droves to the West.  Originally a cattle town, Broadus sits in the southeast edge of the state where the Powder and the Little Powder rivers come together.

Broadus became famous for the Belle oil fields, which heralded in its renown as an oil town.  Broadus is also a strong ranching as well as farming region due to the rich soil that originates from the Powder River Valley.  The town itself attracts a lot of commercial and tourist activity as it conveniently sits along Highway 212, making it an easy stop.

Make sure to visit the Powder River Museum where you can see the town’s original county jail, antique cars, a general store, photographs that commemorate the region from the days of the Wild West, and numerous Native American artifacts.  Another museum of interest is Mac’s Museum, named after pioneer Mac McCurdy.  Here you can see the over 200,000 seashells he collected over the years along with his wonderful collection of minerals.  Another Broadus favorite is the Powder River Taxidermy Wildlife Museum where you can see many wildlife mounts as well as antique guns and art.

Broadus hosts a wealth of fun festivals every year, including the County Fair, the Powder River Buffalo Shoot, and the Chokeberry Festival.  Be sure to take advantage of the Powder River Wagon Trains and Cattle Drive, Inc. where you can hop on a horse to trail some cattle or journey by covered wagon through some of the most magnificent countryside in southeast Montana.

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Hardin offers history and views of the Bighorn Canyon for your Montana Vacation

by Michele Kadison

Hardin, Montana sits on the plains, near the banks of the Bighorn river. The town is full of history, and offers a variety of Montana hotels.

The town was purchased by the Lincoln Land Company of Nebraska. The president of the company, C.H. Morrill, named the townsite after his close friend, Samuel Hardin who was a cattleman living south of the area.

Hardin boasts a rich and interesting history.  Sitting on the edge of the Crow Indian Reservation on the banks of the Bighorn River, the area features numerous heritage sites such as the Little Bighorn Battlefield, the Custer National Cemetery, and the Big Horn County Museum.

The Little Bighorn Battlefield lies just south of Hardin and it was here that the Northern Plains Indians defeated the U.S. Army along with their famous General Custer.  The Custer’s Last Stand Reenactment is one of the Custer County’s main attractions.  Here you will see Native American warriors representing the Sioux, Arapaho, and Northern Cheyenne tribes who were led by Sitting Bull, Gall, and Crazy Horse, fighting Custer’s Seventh Cavalry troops.  The reenactment is based on elder tribesman Joseph Medicine Crow’s translation of the oral and written history of the region that began over 200 years ago.  With over 200 participants, including troops, warriors, and scouts, the event is heralded as one of the ‘Top 100 Events in America’ by Destinations Magazine.

Head over to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area for a dose of big country attractions.  Here you can enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation such as camping, hiking, fishing, and ice fishing as well as observing the amazing flora and fauna that populates the area.  The Canyon and the Bighorn Dam are surrounded by the Pryor and Bighorn mountains, along with undulating hills and wide open plains that give way to the many ranches and farms in the Hardin area.  Along with the largest wheat farm in the world, Hardin is also home to a strong coal mining industry.

Every year the Crow Indians celebrate their culture at the renowned Crow Fair, holding the largest powwow in Montana.  Native Americans come from every Western state as well as Canada to camp along the Little Bighorn River where they create what is known as the Teepee Capital of the World.  The fair is filled with colorful parades, Native American dancing, and wild horse races, which make the event a must-see for Montana vacation travelers.

Within the town of Hardin itself there are many well preserved historical buildings that you will find in the two historic districts: the Hardin Commerical Historic District and the Hardin Residential Historic District.  Look for interpretive markers that will inform you about the architecture and as well as the town’s history.

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Red Lodge offers top-notch Montana vacation accommodations and activities

by Michele Kadison

Enjoy some of the best Montana hiking, backpacking and fishing, along with excellent lodging and restaurants, in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains, encircled by Custer National Forest, and close to Yellowstone National Park. With 28 peaks rising to over 12,000, the area is a favorite with vacation travelers who want to get up close and personal with big nature.

Most of the town’s buildings and homes were built between 1880 and 1915, with many listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Walking through Red Lodge combines a voyage back in time with current day amenities.

Places of special interest include the Carbon County Historical Society Museum where you can see the Grenough rodeo collection, a gun collection from yesteryear, and many other displays that speak of Red Lodge’s past.  For coal mining enthusiasts, the Museum has a wonderful interactive exhibit on the subject as Red Lodge was an important resource town for coal in the early 1900’s.  The Red Lodge Festival, famous for 50 years, commemorates the former mining town’s roots along with the many different ethnic cultures that combined to work and settle in the region.

The Beartooth Nature Center is another important Red Lodge site.  Here live over 100 native wild animals that cannot be returned to their wild habitat.  As the only facility of its kind in Montana, the Center provides visitors with a birds-eye view of native fauna such as mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, wolves, elk, deer, bears, and more.

Riding along the Beartooth Highway you will understand why this route has been designated a National Scenic Byway.  Rising to 11,000 feet, this three hour, 53.7 mile drive takes you through some of the most breathtaking natural vistas in Montana.  Have your camera ready to capture the alpine lakes, the magnificent snowcapped mountains, and the glaciers that abound.  All along the way you can find many recreational activities to enjoy such as hiking, wildlife watching, and cross country skiing during the spring and sometime summer months.

For golfers, don’t forget to head out to Red Lodge Mountain Resort’s 18 hole public golf course with its challenging greens lying at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains.

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